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Art Institute Professor Placed on Leave Over Queer-Muslim Assignment

6/13/2026

Summary

Story summary

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago placed tenured professor Savneet Talwar on leave after a student complaint about a queer-Muslim assignment.
The dean said the assignment, describing a queer Muslim woman affected by violence against Palestinians but not mentioning Israel, might be discrimination, harassment or retaliation, and ordered bias training for department faculty after antisemitism complaints.
Talwar denied the allegations and will file a formal employment discrimination complaint.

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Story summary

The School of the Art Institute of Chicago placed tenured professor Savneet Talwar on leave after a student complaint about a queer-Muslim assignment.
The dean said the assignment, describing a queer Muslim woman affected by violence against Palestinians but not mentioning Israel, might be discrimination, harassment or retaliation, and ordered bias training for department faculty after antisemitism complaints.
Talwar denied the allegations and will file a formal employment discrimination complaint.